Australia is well-positioned to eradicate red fire ants by 2032, a new independent review has found.

The National Fire Ant Eradication Program commissioned Melbourne-based advisory firm GHD to undertake a review into the program, as it prepares to transition to the next phase of the Fire Ant Response Plan 2023-27.

Red fire ants are native to South America and were first detected in Australia in 2001; they have been detected in Queensland and northern NSW in recent years, with large-scale efforts to curb their movements to other states.

Details of the $593m response plan are unable to be published as it is currently cabinet-in-confidence, but the program was given an “amber rating” from GHD, confirming the program was on track.

National Fire Ant Eradication Program general manager program performance Toni Stiles said the end-of-tranche review demonstrated “we are moving in the right direction”, with 19 recommendations made and accepted.

“The recommendations provide a clear road map to work smarter, strengthen our strategies, and maintain momentum,” she said.

“These findings are already helping to shape the development of our next response plan for 2027-32, ensuring we stay focused and deliver real results for communities and Australia.”

Invasive Species Council advocacy director Reece Pianta said they agreed with the review that eradication efforts were on track, with fire nest densities in the past 12 months “way down”.

“Over the last 12 months there’s been an increase in the amount of aerial fire and treatments through helicopters and drones in the infestation area,” he said.

“We’re starting to see impacts on echidna populations, local insect populations. There’s a lot of research at the moment in terms of trying to quantify their impacts on bees and platypus.”

The current funding for fire ant eradication is set to end mid-2027, but Mr Pianta said it was essential that progress continued.

“The last two years is really the first time that we’ve ever put the right level of resourcing into fire ant eradication in two decades,” he said. “If that stops … then all of this good work will be lost. Now is not the time for slowing down.”